OUR INSTITUTES
AND INITIATIVES.
Select an initiative or institute to learn more.
Clinical and Translational Genomics Research Institute
Research Focus:
Precision Genomic Medicine
Our Impact:
- Spreading awareness and better understanding of precision genomic medicine to the next generation of healthcare professionals
- Aim to integrate life-saving technology into community health programs so that everyone, regardless of social or economic status, can access new medical breakthroughs
Primary Spine Care
Research Focus:
The purpose of this project is to assess the value of an emerging model of spine care, in which a Primary Spine Care (PSC) Clinician serves as the initial point of patient contact and evaluation for patients with spine related disorders, renders the majority of treatments, and coordinates referrals.
What We Do:
Our evaluation of implementation of the PSC model of care within an academic primary care medical center was recently published.* Additionally, we assessed the experiences, beliefs, and behaviors of patients who are treated for low back pain using a brief survey/questionnaire.
Our Impact:
In the next phase of this ongoing project we will measure patient clinical outcomes over a 3 and one half year period, as compared to usual medical care. We will first analyze data on all patients and subsequently conduct a sub-analysis of outcomes for medical center employees and dependents only.
Atlas of Integrative Health
Research Focus:
Helping healthcare consumers, providers, and policy makers monitor progress toward access to integrative health care services, particularly for the underserved
What We Do:
Use data from health insurance claims and both public and private agencies to document and map access to integrative healthcare services, state by state
Our Impact:
Developing an online resource that will help reach the policy goals of the integrative healthcare community in the United States
Bone Mineral Density / Osteoporosis
Research Focus:
- To study the effects of a Chinese herbal supplement on bone mineral density in individuals diagnosed with Osteoporosis
Participant Criteria:
- Between the ages of 40 and 80
- Diagnosed with Osteoporosis
- Can read English
Compensation:
- Small monetary compensation for participating
- Complementary herbal supplements and DEXA scans
If you or someone you know is interested in participating, please contact 562.475.5151 or jamiekuljis@scus.edu
Our Research Team
Select a member to learn more.
Jim Whedon, D.C., M.S.
Director, Health Services Research
Jim Whedon is the Director of Health Services Research at Southern California University of Health Sciences and Adjunct Instructor at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. He holds a Doctor of Chiropractic from Logan College and a Master of Science from Dartmouth College. He has authored 33 peer-reviewed publications. He is an advisor to the Project for Integrative Health and the Triple Aim, co-chair of the research working group of The Academic Consortium for Integrative Health, charter member of the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine, and recipient of the Jerome F. McAndrews DC Memorial Research Fund Award from NCMIC Foundation.
Serena Bezdjian, Ph.D.
Associate Research Director
Dr. Bezdjian attended the University of Southern California where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Psychology and subsequently earned her Doctorate in Psychology. During her graduate studies at USC, she received a pre-doctoral training grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to study the development of various traits and behaviors in young children. From her training grant, Dr. Bezdjian was able to publish numerous studies, one of which was a meta-analysis examining the genetic and environmental influences on impulsivity.
Dr. Bezdjian also successfully completed three years of postdoctoral training at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, focusing on epidemiology coursework. She has also worked as an Independent Contractor/Consultant to the U.S. Air Force specializing in military mental health and examining resilience in service members. To that end, a 2017 publication demonstrated that service members who self-reported higher mean levels of resilience during basic training also had lower rates of behavioral problems and mental health diagnoses six months after entering service.
Jennifer M. Noborikawa, DACM, L.Ac.
Research Assistant, College of Eastern Medicine
Jennifer Noborikawa is a part-time faculty member and Research Assistant in the College of Eastern Medicine at Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU). She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from California State University, Fullerton and a Doctor of Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine from SCU. Dr. Noborikawa is currently a member of the American Public Health Association (APHA) and Academy for Integrative Health and Medicine. She works with many adult and pediatric patients and enjoys giving them resources to take back control of their health.
Sivarama Prasad Vinjamury, L.Ac., MAOM, MPH
Professor and Director of Capstone Research, College of Eastern Medicine
Sivarama Prasad graduated with a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine from Osamnia University, Doctor of Medicine from University of Kerala, India and received a Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU). Dr. Prasad is a licensed acupuncturist in California and holds a Diplomate in Acupuncture from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. He is currently working as a Professor and Director of Capstone Research in SCU’s College of Eastern Medicine, as well as a Supervising Clinician at SCU Health System and at the Student Health & Counseling Center at California State University, Fullerton.
Dr. Prasad has over twenty years in clinical experience integrating Ayurveda, traditional Chinese Medicine, and western diagnostic methods to evaluate, assess, and manage patients. Additionally, he prescribes yoga/tai-chi and breathing practices to his clients. One of his strengths is providing dietary advice, based on Eastern traditional medicine, that is best suited for the patient’s condition. He focuses on managing internal medicine conditions, specifically gastrointestinal, respiratory, immunological, psychological, and cardiovascular conditions.
Anupama Kizhakkeveettil (Anu), BAMS, MAOM, L.Ac., CMT, C-IAYT, Ph.D.
Program Director, Ayurvedic Medicine
Anupama Kizhakkeveettil is an Ayurvedic Doctor from India, licensed acupuncturist, yoga teacher and Professor at Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU). She is the Program Director for Ayurvedic Medicine at SCU and has been teaching and practicing Ayurvedic medicine over eighteen years–traveling extensively in various countries to propagate Ayurveda. She is actively involved in integrative complementary and alternative medicine research and has authored in various peer-reviewed journals. She serves as a peer reviewer for several research journals and has presented papers at various national and international conferences. She also serves on the Board of Directors for National Ayurvedic Medical Association, California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine, Council of Ayurvedic Research, Research Working Group Member of Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health, and an Action Board Member of American Public Health Association. In her clinical practice, she integrates diet, yoga, lifestyle counseling, herbs, and various bodywork therapies individualized to the patient’s condition. Her main interests are managing musculoskeletal condition, mental health, women’s health, and preventative care. She believes in an integrative approach for health and wellness care.
Jim Whedon, D.C., M.S.
Director, Health Services Research
Jim Whedon is the Director of Health Services Research at Southern California University of Health Sciences and Adjunct Instructor at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. He holds a Doctor of Chiropractic from Logan College and a Master of Science from Dartmouth College. He has authored 33 peer-reviewed publications. He is an advisor to the Project for Integrative Health and the Triple Aim, co-chair of the research working group of The Academic Consortium for Integrative Health, charter member of the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine, and recipient of the Jerome F. McAndrews DC Memorial Research Fund Award from NCMIC Foundation.
Serena Bezdjian, Ph.D.
Associate Research Director
Dr. Bezdjian attended the University of Southern California where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Psychology and subsequently earned her Doctorate in Psychology. During her graduate studies at USC, she received a pre-doctoral training grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to study the development of various traits and behaviors in young children. From her training grant, Dr. Bezdjian was able to publish numerous studies, one of which was a meta-analysis examining the genetic and environmental influences on impulsivity.
Dr. Bezdjian also successfully completed three years of postdoctoral training at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, focusing on epidemiology coursework. She has also worked as an Independent Contractor/Consultant to the U.S. Air Force specializing in military mental health and examining resilience in service members. To that end, a 2017 publication demonstrated that service members who self-reported higher mean levels of resilience during basic training also had lower rates of behavioral problems and mental health diagnoses six months after entering service.
Jennifer M. Noborikawa, DACM, L.Ac.
Research Assistant, College of Eastern Medicine
Jennifer Noborikawa is a part-time faculty member and Research Assistant in the College of Eastern Medicine at Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU). She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from California State University, Fullerton and a Doctor of Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine from SCU. Dr. Noborikawa is currently a member of the American Public Health Association (APHA) and Academy for Integrative Health and Medicine. She works with many adult and pediatric patients and enjoys giving them resources to take back control of their health.
Sivarama Prasad Vinjamury, L.Ac., MAOM, MPH
Professor and Director of Capstone Research, College of Eastern Medicine
Sivarama Prasad graduated with a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine from Osamnia University, Doctor of Medicine from University of Kerala, India and received a Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU). Dr. Prasad is a licensed acupuncturist in California and holds a Diplomate in Acupuncture from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. He is currently working as a Professor and Director of Capstone Research in SCU’s College of Eastern Medicine, as well as a Supervising Clinician at SCU Health System and at the Student Health & Counseling Center at California State University, Fullerton.
Dr. Prasad has over twenty years in clinical experience integrating Ayurveda, traditional Chinese Medicine, and western diagnostic methods to evaluate, assess, and manage patients. Additionally, he prescribes yoga/tai-chi and breathing practices to his clients. One of his strengths is providing dietary advice, based on Eastern traditional medicine, that is best suited for the patient’s condition. He focuses on managing internal medicine conditions, specifically gastrointestinal, respiratory, immunological, psychological, and cardiovascular conditions.
Anupama Kizhakkeveettil (Anu), BAMS, MAOM, L.Ac., CMT, C-IAYT, Ph.D.
Program Director, Ayurvedic Medicine
Anupama Kizhakkeveettil is an Ayurvedic Doctor from India, licensed acupuncturist, yoga teacher and Professor at Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU). She is the Program Director for Ayurvedic Medicine at SCU and has been teaching and practicing Ayurvedic medicine over eighteen years–traveling extensively in various countries to propagate Ayurveda. She is actively involved in integrative complementary and alternative medicine research and has authored in various peer-reviewed journals. She serves as a peer reviewer for several research journals and has presented papers at various national and international conferences. She also serves on the Board of Directors for National Ayurvedic Medical Association, California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine, Council of Ayurvedic Research, Research Working Group Member of Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health, and an Action Board Member of American Public Health Association. In her clinical practice, she integrates diet, yoga, lifestyle counseling, herbs, and various bodywork therapies individualized to the patient’s condition. Her main interests are managing musculoskeletal condition, mental health, women’s health, and preventative care. She believes in an integrative approach for health and wellness care.
SCU HEALTH
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS.
Select a topic below and discover more to the right.
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Implementation of the Primary Spine Care Model in a Multi-Clinician Primary Care Setting: An Observational Cohort Study.
SCU Health Researchers
Jim Whedon, Toler A, Bezdjian S, Goehl J, Russell R, Kazal L, Nagare M.
Overview
The objective of this investigation was to compare the value of primary spine care (PSC) with usual care for the management of patients with spine-related disorders (SRDs) within a primary care setting. Among patients with SRDs included in this study, implementation of the PSC model within a conventional primary care setting was associated with a trend toward reduced total expenditures for spine care compared with usual primary care. Implementation of PSC may lead to reduced costs and resource utilization but may be no more effective than usual care regarding clinical outcomes.
Access to the full study available here.
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Trends in the use and cost of chiropractic spinal manipulation under Medicare Part B
SCU Health Researcher
Jim Whedon
Overview
Chiropractic claims account for less than 1/10th of 1% of overall Medicare expenditures. Allowed services, allowed charges, and fee-for-service payments for chiropractic spinal manipulation under Medicare Part B generally increased from 2002, peaked in 2005 and 2006, and then declined through 2008. Per-user spending for chiropractic spinal manipulation also declined by 18% from 2006 to 2008, in contrast to 10% growth in total spending per beneficiary and 16% growth in overall Medicare spending.
Access to the full study available here.
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Use of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation in Older Adults Is Strongly Correlated With Supply
SCU Health Researcher
Jim Whedon
Overview
To examine the relationship between regional chiropractic supply and both use and utilization intensity of chiropractic services among Medicare beneficiaries.
Access to the full study available here.
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Relevance of Quality Measurement to Integrative Healthcare in the United States
SCU Health Researcher
Jim Whedon
Overview
With the advent of new models for payment and delivery of healthcare services, the use of quality measures for continual improvement of clinical healthcare is now an integral feature of medical practice in the United States. However, quality measurement and quality improvement activities are not common practice among integrative health providers. This article discusses the import and application of quality measurement to the practice of integrative healthcare. It reviews developments in the healthcare quality improvement movement, explores the relevance of quality measures to integrative healthcare, describes examples of the current use of quality measures in integrative health practice, discusses discriminatory policies that may prevent participation in quality improvement by integrative health practitioners, and makes recommendations for practice and policy.
Access to the full study available here.
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